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Mar. 20—ST. PAUL, Minn. — When Sacha Boisvert walks into Ralph Engelstad Arena, he takes note of the legendary players on the walls.
"You always want to be one of those guys," Boisvert said. "When guys are walking in, maybe 10 years from now, you'll be on the walls and they'll be looking up to you. My main goal coming here is to win a championship and get my name up there forever."
Boisvert is off to a good start.
He was named the National Collegiate Hockey Conference's Rookie of the Year on Thursday night at St. Paul Event Center.
He accepted the award from his coach, Brad Berry. His mother, Maya, and sister, Billie, were in the back of the room recording it on their phones.
Boisvert won the award over Minnesota Duluth forward Max Plante and Western Michigan defenseman Joona Vaisanen.
"It's a good feeling getting recognized by the league as the best rookie of the year," Boisvert said. "It's awesome. It's a big award. But we're in St. Paul for business and to win some games and that's where my head is at right now."
Boisvert is the third UND player to win NCHC Rookie of the Year since the league's formation in 2013-14. The others are Brock Boeser in 2015-16 and Jackson Blake in 2022-23.
Prior to the NCHC era, nine UND players won it in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association — Danny Kristo (2010), Brady Murray (2004), Brandon Bochenski (2002), Karl Goehring (1998), Landon Wilson (1994), James Patrick (1982), Kevin Maxwell (1979), Alan Hangsleben (1972) and Bob Munro (1967).
"He came in as a young guy, highly touted," Berry said. "But you never know until you step on the ice and play NCHC hockey. He didn't disappoint."
Boisvert leads UND in goals (16) and points (30).
Boisvert joined an impressive group of 30-point UND freshmen in the last 20-plus years.
The others on the list are Blake, Tyson Jost, Boeser, Kristo, T.J. Oshie, Jonathan Toews, Ryan Duncan, Travis Zajac, Rastislav Spirko, Murray, Drew Stafford and Zach Parise.
"I think it just shows how competitive he is and how he wants to be the guy," Berry said. "When he was in Muskegon, he came in there as a young guy and he dominated right away. His second year, he was one of the best, if not the best, in the league. That's what he's doing here right now. When you're competitive and you strive to invest in yourself every day, you can't help but have success."
Boisvert enters the NCHC Frozen Faceoff on his best run of the season. He has 10 points in the last eight games.
"He played really well out of the gates," Berry said. "When a lot of our guys went out with injury just before Christmas, he stepped up for our team and led our team offensively. After Christmas, he's gotten even better — play with the puck and play away from the puck."
The Chicago Blackhawks selected Boisvert in the first round, No. 18 overall, last summer in The Sphere in Las Vegas.
"He's turned into a very dominant centerman in the NCHC in his first year," Berry said. "His future is bright with us and with pro hockey as well."
Boisvert said he's enjoying his college experience.
"It's been awesome meeting new friends who I'll be in contact with for all my life," he said. "The coaching staff has been awesome. The team has been awesome. They're pushing me every day to get better. It's only been great so far."
2025 — Sacha Boisvert
2023 — Jackson Blake
2016 — Brock Boeser
2010 — Danny Kristo
2004 — Brady Murray
2002 — Brandon Bochenski
1998 — Karl Goehring
1994 — Landon Wilson
1982 — James Patrick
1979 — Kevin Maxwell
1972 — Alan Hangsleben
1967 — Bob Munro
Continue reading...
"You always want to be one of those guys," Boisvert said. "When guys are walking in, maybe 10 years from now, you'll be on the walls and they'll be looking up to you. My main goal coming here is to win a championship and get my name up there forever."
Boisvert is off to a good start.
He was named the National Collegiate Hockey Conference's Rookie of the Year on Thursday night at St. Paul Event Center.
He accepted the award from his coach, Brad Berry. His mother, Maya, and sister, Billie, were in the back of the room recording it on their phones.
Boisvert won the award over Minnesota Duluth forward Max Plante and Western Michigan defenseman Joona Vaisanen.
"It's a good feeling getting recognized by the league as the best rookie of the year," Boisvert said. "It's awesome. It's a big award. But we're in St. Paul for business and to win some games and that's where my head is at right now."
Boisvert is the third UND player to win NCHC Rookie of the Year since the league's formation in 2013-14. The others are Brock Boeser in 2015-16 and Jackson Blake in 2022-23.
Prior to the NCHC era, nine UND players won it in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association — Danny Kristo (2010), Brady Murray (2004), Brandon Bochenski (2002), Karl Goehring (1998), Landon Wilson (1994), James Patrick (1982), Kevin Maxwell (1979), Alan Hangsleben (1972) and Bob Munro (1967).
"He came in as a young guy, highly touted," Berry said. "But you never know until you step on the ice and play NCHC hockey. He didn't disappoint."
Boisvert leads UND in goals (16) and points (30).
Boisvert joined an impressive group of 30-point UND freshmen in the last 20-plus years.
The others on the list are Blake, Tyson Jost, Boeser, Kristo, T.J. Oshie, Jonathan Toews, Ryan Duncan, Travis Zajac, Rastislav Spirko, Murray, Drew Stafford and Zach Parise.
"I think it just shows how competitive he is and how he wants to be the guy," Berry said. "When he was in Muskegon, he came in there as a young guy and he dominated right away. His second year, he was one of the best, if not the best, in the league. That's what he's doing here right now. When you're competitive and you strive to invest in yourself every day, you can't help but have success."
Boisvert enters the NCHC Frozen Faceoff on his best run of the season. He has 10 points in the last eight games.
"He played really well out of the gates," Berry said. "When a lot of our guys went out with injury just before Christmas, he stepped up for our team and led our team offensively. After Christmas, he's gotten even better — play with the puck and play away from the puck."
The Chicago Blackhawks selected Boisvert in the first round, No. 18 overall, last summer in The Sphere in Las Vegas.
"He's turned into a very dominant centerman in the NCHC in his first year," Berry said. "His future is bright with us and with pro hockey as well."
Boisvert said he's enjoying his college experience.
"It's been awesome meeting new friends who I'll be in contact with for all my life," he said. "The coaching staff has been awesome. The team has been awesome. They're pushing me every day to get better. It's only been great so far."
2025 — Sacha Boisvert
2023 — Jackson Blake
2016 — Brock Boeser
2010 — Danny Kristo
2004 — Brady Murray
2002 — Brandon Bochenski
1998 — Karl Goehring
1994 — Landon Wilson
1982 — James Patrick
1979 — Kevin Maxwell
1972 — Alan Hangsleben
1967 — Bob Munro
Continue reading...
